Lucas & Clark Grounds Company: Nurturing Great Falls’ Rural Heritage

As proud natives of Great Falls, Virginia, Clark and the dedicated team at Lucas & Clark Grounds Company were deeply moved to be part of a project that perfectly encapsulates the region’s rich farming and rural history. Clark’s childhood home was nestled next to a traditional horse farm, an experience that instilled in him a profound appreciation for the area’s rustic charm. When Thomson & Cooke Architects unveiled their visionary plan to capture Great Falls’ historical essence, Clark felt an immediate connection.

Thomson & Cooke Architects, in collaboration with Richardson & Associates Landscape Architects, set out to realize a contemporary yet rustic country house enveloped in a tapestry of lush and serene greenery. The landscape is embellished with a significant reforested area, boasting more than 100 majestic hardwood trees, a bountiful orchard, an inviting kitchen garden, perennial oases, abundant boxwood and fern plantings, a diverse array of grasses, vibrant flowering shrubs, and gently sloping grass fields. At the entrance of the property, a stately row of freeman maples adorns the winding driveway, setting the tone for the project’s graceful style.

Lucas & Clark Grounds Company played a pivotal role throughout every phase of this remarkable landscape project, working closely with the Thorsen and Richardson & Associates teams. Their contributions ranged from initial bush hogging of the property prior to construction to comprehensive site work, including silt fencing and tree removal. They excelled in implementing extensive drainage and infiltration systems, while also expertly installing an irrigation system connected to the vegetable garden. Their skilled hands meticulously planted gardens, perennials, shrubs, and trees, concluding with the installation of sod and other finishing touches.

Within the enchanting orchard, Lucas & Clark Grounds Company thoughtfully sourced and planted a variety of apple, peach, pear, and nut trees, alongside a tantalizing assortment of blueberries. The kitchen garden, a true highlight, features over 200 square feet of raised beds edged with stone, ready for bountiful vegetable harvests, flanked by pollinators and fragrant herbs. Notably, the Lucas & Clark Grounds Company team even introduced a unique specimen planting—an espaliered apple tree that gracefully adorns the side of the house.

Lucas & Clark Grounds Company feels privileged to have played a significant role in the Great Falls project—a testament to the collaboration of an insightful and detail-oriented team dedicated to preserving the enduring rural charm of the Great Falls community.